The Colorado PGA named many of its 2017 award winners on Wednesday, with Mark Kelbel, the head professional at The Broadmoor Golf Club, earning the Section’s highest honor, Golf Professional of the Year.
The Golf Professional of the Year award goes to a Section member for overall performance, including leadership, service and promotion of the game of golf.
Kelbel, a member of the PGA since 1993, is a third-generation golf professional and he’s helped 36 assistants advance to become head professionals.
The Broadmoor, of course, will be in the spotlight next summer when the club hosts the U.S. Senior Open for the second time in 11 years. And in between, the U.S. Women’s Open paid a visit in 2011.
Kelbel and the other Section honorees will be given their awards on Oct. 27 at the Colorado PGA’s Special Awards Gala.
(Updated Oct. 12) Here are all of the award winners announced this week, with more honorees being named later.
Golf Professional of the Year — Mark Kelbel, The Broadmoor Golf Club
Teacher of the Year — Trent Wearner, Trent Wearner Golf Academy
Bill Strausbaugh Award (mentoring fellow PGA professionals) — Ty Walker, GolfTEC Denver Tech Center
Assistant Professional of the Year — Cy Twete, The Golf Club at Bear Dance
Horton Smith Award (exceptional contributions to promote and improve PGA educational programs) — Patrick Nuber, GolfTEC, national director of teaching quality and instruction
Player Development Award — Leighton Smith, The First Tee of Pikes Peak
Youth Player Development Award — Todd Laxson, Cherokee Ridge Golf Course
Warren Smith Award (special contributions to game of golf, the Colorado PGA, junior golf and their facility) — Barry Milstead, Valley Country Club
Private Merchandiser of the Year — Steve David, Denver Country Club
Resort Merchandiser of the Year — Phillip Tobias, River Course and Ranch Course at Keystone Resort
Public Merchandiser of the Year — Dale Smigelsky, Collindale Golf Course.
Todd Phipers Media Award — Stan Fenn and Doug Perry (Morning Cup of Golf radio show)
President’s Award (promoting and enhancing PGA professionals, the PGA Section and the game of golf and contributing to the betterment of the golf professional vocation) — Eric Kenealy
In addition to those named above, the Colorado PGA recently had one of its own earn a national award as Mark Pfingston, the head professional at The Golf Club at Bear Dance in Larkspur, was named the PGA of America’s 2017 Merchandiser of the Year for public facilities. For more on that honor, CLICK HERE.
